Press Freedom and State Power: Rethinking the Press&rsquo; Fragile Position in Philippine Political History

Leonor  Lopez-hernando,

Press Freedom and State Power: Rethinking the Press’ Fragile Position in Philippine Political History

Discipline: Journalism

Abstract:

This essay looks into press freedom, structure, and the function of the press before the establishment of the First Republic of the Philippines in 1899 and continuing through the present Fifth Republic of the Philippines. It also interrogates the perpetually challenged, dynamic, and fragile position of the press, in which its freedom was upheld or curtailed in the transitioning government. There are mentions of known press industries, journalists, and nationalists whose names left a mark in history, either as witnesses or as major participants in the upheaval, change, and normalization of the government following the institution of the constitution that gave birth to the republics and institutionalized the media structure. Guided by the historical-structuralist approach, this essay highlights how the state’s power and the economy challenge the function of the press, presenting recurring patterns of suppression to resurgence. Thus, the free press is indeed an indicator of democracy, yet, it cannot fully function as an autonomous democratic check due to state pressure and structural constraints tied to economic power.

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